Just upgraded to Windows 8.1 (rant)

[M0RPH]

First of all, the install is slow as molasses. You need to download something like 3-4GB of files. (I question why what is essentially a service pack needs to be so large?) After that, about an hour of time installing, then I see "Windows is restoring your previous operating system." Yeah, it didn't work because I hadn't caught up with all my Windows updates beforehand. Why couldn't the installer check that before it started?

So I do the Windows updates, run 8.1 install again, another hour+ later it finally finishes. Looks pretty much the same as 8 except for a new start button in the corner to give you a visual cue, instead of just blindly clicking there. The only other obvious difference is that now all of the tiles on the Start screen are random bright colors (apparently derived from the color of the icon?). Well, it looks butt ugly. I've looked around for a way to set them all back to blue like it was in Windows 8, but apparently it's not possible.

Congratulations Microsoft, you took the one thing that was good about this Metro UI, the nice asthetics, and turned it to crap. Why would this not be a configurable option? Did someone at Microsoft actually think this looks good? Also, they now let you put a custom background on the Metro screen which, when combined with the garish colored tiles, looks absolutely horrendous. What they've done is made it very easy for people to turn the Metro UI into an incredibly ugly mess.

Can anyone tell me what the major new features are supposed to be? I hope there's some really awesome stuff under the hood here, because as of right now I'm wondering why I just spent hours of my time doing this upgrade, and wondering why I needed to download multiple gigabytes of files.

Also, any Mac users, can you tell me if doing minor OSX upgrades is as painful as this? I'm so fed up with Microsoft, I'm actually having thoughts about switching sides.

 

[Pardus]

First of all, the install is slow as molasses. You need to download something like 3-4GB of files. (I question why what is essentially a service pack needs to be so large?) After that, about an hour of time installing, then I see "Windows is restoring your previous operating system." Yeah, it didn't work because I hadn't caught up with all my Windows updates beforehand. Why couldn't the installer check that before it started?

So I do the Windows updates, run 8.1 install again, another hour+ later it finally finishes. Looks pretty much the same as 8 except for a new start button in the corner to give you a visual cue, instead of just blindly clicking there. The only other obvious difference is that now all of the tiles on the Start screen are random bright colors (apparently derived from the color of the icon?). Well, it looks butt ugly. I've looked around for a way to set them all back to blue like it was in Windows 8, but apparently it's not possible.

Congratulations Microsoft, you took the one thing that was good about this Metro UI, the nice asthetics, and turned it to crap. Why would this not be a configurable option? Did someone at Microsoft actually think this looks good? Also, they now let you put a custom background on the Metro screen which, when combined with the garish colored tiles, looks absolutely horrendous. What they've done is made it very easy for people to turn the Metro UI into an incredibly ugly mess.

Can anyone tell me what the major new features are supposed to be? I hope there's some really awesome stuff under the hood here, because as of right now I'm wondering why I just spent hours of my time doing this upgrade, and wondering why I needed to download multiple gigabytes of files.

Also, any Mac users, can you tell me if doing minor OSX upgrades is as painful as this? I'm so fed up with Microsoft, I'm actually having thoughts about switching sides.

1. The upgrade to Windows 8.1 is not service pack, it's a complete new operating system. That's why it is in the Windows store and not Windows update.
2. You should have done a clean install and from a flash drive.
3. Metro is designed/works best for touchscreen, you can turn it off/hide/disable it.
4. I personally upgraded over a dozen pc's from Windows 7, Windows 8 all to Windows 8.1 with no issues at all. When i say upgrade, i mean clean install.
5. Have also upgraded a few mac's running lion to maverick, took 60-90 mins each for those.
6. Every pc running Windows 8.1, is also running Classic Shell, once people learn the os, everyone says 8.1 is faster than 7/8.0 and a lot happier.

Here is what's new:

The Start button is back. But not the way lot of people hoped. Yes, there's a start icon in the lower left corner of the desktop, but all it does is take you to the modern start screen -- just like the empty corner did before the upgrade. It's like a passive-aggressive genie granted you a wish by delivering the literal thing you asked for, not what you intended to get. On the other hand, there is a handy context menu in the Start button -- right click to get access to nearly two dozen items, including a new path to shutting down the PC.

Boot directly to the desktop. People hated booting to the start screen. And even though the desktop was always just a click away, Microsoft acquiesced and gives you the ability to bypass the start screen. To do that, right-click the taskbar and choose Properties, Navigation. You can also control other elements of Windows 8 here, like disabling the "hot corners."

Snapping is better. The nightmare that was modern app snapping in Windows 8 is finally over. Now you can snap more than two apps side-by-side, and easily drag the windows around to adjust their widths automatically. It makes the modern experience actually usable. In just a few days with Windows 8.1, I've found myself using modern apps a lot more because of this. Clicking an external link in the Facebook app, for example, automatically opens the browser and positions the apps side-by-side -- a very nice experience.

You can search "everywhere." The search experience in the modern start screen was, frankly, confusing. In Windows 8.1, when you search you see results from everywhere at once -- the local hard drive, the Web and apps.

Vastly improved PC settings. One of the best examples of how half-baked Windows 8 was that the modern control panel ("PC Settings") only controlled a small set of Windows features, probably because Microsoft simply didn't have time to build out the new control panel in a comprehensive way. So you still needed to go to the legacy desktop control panel for most of you adjustments. No more: The revamped PC settings still isn't complete, but it does so much more that you rarely need to visit the old control panel.

Seamless desktop and start screen. There are a variety of visual improvements and wallpaper changes, but hands down the best one is the coherent background in the desktop and start screen. One reason, I think, that people didn't like the start screen in Windows 8 was the fact that it was a jarring change to switch between the desktop and modern experiences. Now, you can keep the same background, so the start screen seem like it was designed to be an extension of the desktop -- the change is small, but incredibly important.

Deeper SkyDrive integration. Microsoft is definitely following through on its intention to make the Internet cloud an integral part of Windows.

 

[lxskllr]

Also, any Mac users, can you tell me if doing minor OSX upgrades is as painful as this? I'm so fed up with Microsoft, I'm actually having thoughts about switching sides.

GNU/Linux is easy. The longest part is the download if you have a slow connection. It /might/ be 15 minutes for a full upgrade, not counting download time.

 

[JEDIYoda]

First of all, the install is slow as molasses. You need to download something like 3-4GB of files. (I question why what is essentially a service pack needs to be so large?) After that, about an hour of time installing, then I see "Windows is restoring your previous operating system." Yeah, it didn't work because I hadn't caught up with all my Windows updates beforehand. Why couldn't the installer check that before it started?

So I do the Windows updates, run 8.1 install again, another hour+ later it finally finishes. Looks pretty much the same as 8 except for a new start button in the corner to give you a visual cue, instead of just blindly clicking there. The only other obvious difference is that now all of the tiles on the Start screen are random bright colors (apparently derived from the color of the icon?). Well, it looks butt ugly. I've looked around for a way to set them all back to blue like it was in Windows 8, but apparently it's not possible.

Congratulations Microsoft, you took the one thing that was good about this Metro UI, the nice asthetics, and turned it to crap. Why would this not be a configurable option? Did someone at Microsoft actually think this looks good? Also, they now let you put a custom background on the Metro screen which, when combined with the garish colored tiles, looks absolutely horrendous. What they've done is made it very easy for people to turn the Metro UI into an incredibly ugly mess.

Can anyone tell me what the major new features are supposed to be? I hope there's some really awesome stuff under the hood here, because as of right now I'm wondering why I just spent hours of my time doing this upgrade, and wondering why I needed to download multiple gigabytes of files.

Also, any Mac users, can you tell me if doing minor OSX upgrades is as painful as this? I'm so fed up with Microsoft, I'm actually having thoughts about switching sides.

rofl@MORPH another whats wrong with windows 8.1...hahahahahaaaaa

 

[smakme7757]

It's sold as an entire new OS. So you will have to download an entire new OS.

New Features: http://lifehacker.com/all-the-new-stuff-in-windows-8-1-587098156

Your rant is just a "Omg why, but why, I mean why!" and that's it? What about some constructive criticism?

 

[ControlD]

Also, any Mac users, can you tell me if doing minor OSX upgrades is as painful as this? I'm so fed up with Microsoft, I'm actually having thoughts about switching sides.

I recently upgraded my Mac to the newest version of OS X. The process was very similar to what you went through with Windows 8.1.

I first had to download the operating system image, which was something like 5GB. Once the download was ready I started the update which took somewhere between one and two hours to complete.

Just like my upgrade of OS X, your upgrade from Windows 8 to 8.1 is not a "minor" update. It is a full OS upgrade from one version to another. It isn't like installing a service pack or hotfix.

 

[Ketchup]

To keep files and settings, I understand the urge to just upgrade through the Store. But, based on the feedback in AT Forums, I think most would do better with a fresh install. If I don't include the time spent downloading the ISO (which would be dependent on Internet provider) it felt about the same setup time as 8.0. I did have to get some drivers manually, which was a surprise, but not terribly difficult.

As I have posted before, I think Microsoft would have been better off "selling" this as a new OS, albeit a free one if you already had 8.0, rather than letting people go into it thinking it would be just like installing a service pack.

 

[denis280]

To keep files and settings, I understand the urge to just upgrade through the Store. But, based on the feedback in AT Forums, I think most would do better with a fresh install. If I don't include the time spent downloading the ISO (which would be dependent on Internet provider) it felt about the same setup time as 8.0. I did have to get some drivers manually, which was a surprise, but not terribly difficult.

As I have posted before, I think Microsoft would have been better off "selling" this as a new OS, albeit a free one if you already had 8.0, rather than letting people go into it thinking it would be just like installing a service pack.

I agree with ketchup.Did the same thing UPGRADE and all when wrong.did a fresh install to 8.1.and as mention ad to go around to find the drivers.BUT hey don't worried.MS is suppose to come out with 8.2 before releasing windows 9

 

[corkyg]

Did a direct upgrade of 8.0 to 8.1 using a downloaded ISO file from my TechNet account. Took about 25 minutes to do the complete upgrade. Clean install? I wiould only do that as a last resort - it means 2-3 days work installing about 40 programs and customizations. As long as a direct upgrade works, I will always do that first. So far I have never had toi do a clean install since Win 98.

 

[JEDIYoda]

Did a direct upgrade of 8.0 to 8.1 using a downloaded ISO file from my TechNet account. Took about 25 minutes to do the complete upgrade. Clean install? I wiould only do that as a last resort - it means 2-3 days work installing about 40 programs and customizations. As long as a direct upgrade works, I will always do that first. So far I have never had toi do a clean install since Win 98.

I totally agree!! Last resort or if you have way too much time on your hands==clean install..lol

 

[escrow4]

If your PC is full of junk and 50 million programs clean install. All my 4 Win 8 systems have less than 15 (if that) core programs installed and are kept lean and clean. All 4 upgraded flawlessly.

 

[xSauronx]

havent had any issues with an upgrade from 8 to 8.1 here at work

the only thing i dont like is that they took over my onenote screen clip shortcut. fuckers. the search is unified again and somethign something, i dont know. i pin everything to the taskbar and never use the tiles because i dont have a touch screen.

notable changes per gizmodo
http://gizmodo.com/windows-8-1-review-little-changes-make-a-big-differenc-1446625571

enterprise worthy changes per technet
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/dn140266.aspx

i dont have enough windows 8 systems at work to care about what it does at an enterprise level. and since only execs get one here and i am still new to the place, i cant really go rocking too many boats just yet

setting it to boot to desktop and have a start button seems to be a big deal to some people, im still not sure why. they are niceties but those things never hampered me before i updated to 8.1 *shrug*

 

[Aldon]

It's alright after they've implemented the equivalent of a start button. Other than that, having Windows 8.1 only on my laptop, I'm happier with my Windows 7 on my desktop.

 

[M0RPH]

Seems like a lot of you are drinking the Microsoft kool-aid. An entire new OS? Not hardly. It's nothing more than a service pack with a different name, really. I've noticed nothing but minor changes. Even among the list of new features that was posted here, minor changes. Still waiting for someone to tell me why this update should require a 3-4GB download. My full Windows 8 upgrade ISO is smaller than that.

And let's talk about the tile colors. None of you commented on that. Just curious, do you folks think the crazy random colors looks good?

(not my screen)
At least put in an option to have the tile colors the way they were, a single color that the user can choose. Why would you force such a garish color scheme on people?

 

[lxskllr]

I don't use it, but if I could dictate the color of the tile, I'd consider that a feature. I'd color them according to function.

 

[ControlD]

Seems like a lot of you are drinking the Microsoft kool-aid. An entire new OS? Not hardly. It's nothing more than a service pack with a different name, really. I've noticed nothing but minor changes. Even among the list of new features that was posted here, minor changes. Still waiting for someone to tell me why this update should require a 3-4GB download. My full Windows 8 upgrade ISO is smaller than that.

When people are talking about a full OS upgrade it isn't about new features or your perceived lack of them. It is in reference to how the update is distributed and packaged. Windows 8.1 is a full operating system image, not a service pack or update. Nobody is trying to convince you of anything else and there is no kool-aid involved.

It is no different than Snow Leopard --> Lion --> Mountain Lion --> Mavericks, etc.. Or in the Linux world Mint13 --> Mint14 --> Mint 15. Those are full OS updates that require a full OS image download. You might be hard pressed to find any earth shattering differences between many of those as well but they are still full OS updates that cannot be made with a simple service pack downloads.

 

[M0RPH]

I just noticed some things about the wireless network panel. You can no longer hover over a wireless network to see what type of security it's using. Also there is no longer a right-click context menu to do things like setting a connection as metered. This is the type of thing that has me fed up with Microsoft. Removing useful features is now progress to them. Oversimplification to the point of reduced functionality is now their standard way of doing things.

 

[Berryracer]

I just noticed some things about the wireless network panel. You can no longer hover over a wireless network to see what type of security it's using. Also there is no longer a right-click context menu to do things like setting a connection as metered. This is the type of thing that has me fed up with Microsoft. Removing useful features is now progress to them. Oversimplification to the point of reduced functionality is now their standard way of doing things.

yes very annoying, im back to Win 7 Pro FTW

 

[ControlD]

I just noticed some things about the wireless network panel. You can no longer hover over a wireless network to see what type of security it's using. Also there is no longer a right-click context menu to do things like setting a connection as metered. This is the type of thing that has me fed up with Microsoft. Removing useful features is now progress to them. Oversimplification to the point of reduced functionality is now their standard way of doing things.

nvm .. user error on my part.

 

[lxskllr]

This is the type of thing that has me fed up with Microsoft. Removing useful features is now progress to them. Oversimplification to the point of reduced functionality is now their standard way of doing things.

It's not just MS. Many companies are doing it. I think Gnome's on the way to a desktop with a single button in the middle that does everything. Mozilla's removing features from Firefox, and Chrome's always been stripped.

Computers are being made for the lowest common denominator; the people who have trouble using facebook due to the drool left on the keys. Big brother knows best, and will control that hard computer for you. You just sit back and enjoy what we think you'd like to see :^S

 

[balloonshark]

It's not just MS. Many companies are doing it. I think Gnome's on the way to a desktop with a single button in the middle that does everything. Mozilla's removing features from Firefox, and Chrome's always been stripped.

Computers are being made for the lowest common denominator; the people who have trouble using facebook due to the drool left on the keys. Big brother knows best, and will control that hard computer for you. You just sit back and enjoy what we think you'd like to see :^S

Thank God I'm not the only one who sees through all the bs. I was beginning to think I was all alone. It's amazing what can be seen once one takes off their rose colored glasses.

 

[gamefreakgcb]

I just upgraded from Win 7 Pro to Win 8.1 enterprise (work laptop). I have an X230 with a 500GB SSD. I use a multi monitor setup and so far really liking 8.1. I briefly tried W8 a little while ago and hated it. But after setting up multiple laptops with and without touchscreens for family and friends, I find W8 to be snappier.

Multiple monitor usage under W7 was very quirky. W8 finally lets me treat the other display like a completely different system.

 

[rgallant]

Seems like a lot of you are drinking the Microsoft kool-aid. An entire new OS? Not hardly. It's nothing more than a service pack with a different name, really. I've noticed nothing but minor changes. Even among the list of new features that was posted here, minor changes. Still waiting for someone to tell me why this update should require a 3-4GB download. My full Windows 8 upgrade ISO is smaller than that.

And let's talk about the tile colors. None of you commented on that. Just curious, do you folks think the crazy random colors looks good?

(not my screen)
At least put in an option to have the tile colors the way they were, a single color that the user can choose. Why would you force such a garish color scheme on people?

looks like a puzzle-with no solution

 

[Maximilian]

looks like a puzzle-with no solution

 

[Virgorising]

Seems like a lot of you are drinking the Microsoft kool-aid. An entire new OS? Not hardly. It's nothing more than a service pack with a different name, really. I've noticed nothing but minor changes. Even among the list of new features that was posted here, minor changes. Still waiting for someone to tell me why this update should require a 3-4GB download. My full Windows 8 upgrade ISO is smaller than that.

And let's talk about the tile colors. None of you commented on that. Just curious, do you folks think the crazy random colors looks good?

(not my screen)
At least put in an option to have the tile colors the way they were, a single color that the user can choose. Why would you force such a garish color scheme on people?

This, to me---also in person--- is a vulgar verging on obliterating affront to anyone with a nuanced aesthetic. It also robs you of power and options, belies how many shortcuts many of us have and need; I keep all mine in two folders with shortcuts to each on my desktop.

One thing on our phones, but on our desktops?

Pretty sure it also causes brain damage or burns the retinas.:sneaky:

I DESPISE IT VERY MUCH.()